Refrigerator



June 27, 1944.: T. WuRUNDELL REFRIGERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1941 June 27, 1944. RUNDELL I 2,352,345

I REFRI GERATOR Filed Nov. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tented June 27, 1944 This invention relates to new and useful imrovements in domestic refrigerators and more lcularly to a new and improved shelf contruction therefor.

Domestic refrigerators of the conventional type enerally have their interior storage compartent provided withooneiprhmore horizontally disposed shelves, and these shelves usually'are throughout the height of the storage compartment. In most refrigerators, however, the space between adjacent shelves is not great enough vertically to permit large commodities, such as roasts, watermelons, and the like, to be inserted therebetween and, in many cases, this condition 6 has unduly limited the utility and storage facilities of domestic refrigerators. 'For this reason it is desirable that domestic refrigerators be provided. with one or more shelf structures having at least s. portion or portions thereof that can be manipulated or positioned out of the way so as to provide sufficient clearance or height for commodities that are taller than the normal space between adjacent shelves of the refrigerator.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal 011- ject of the present invention is to provide a novel shelf construction for domestic refrigerators which embodies a plurality of articulated sections movable relative to each other and to the shelf so that one or more of said sections may be moved from its normal position in the shelf thereby leaving an opening in said shelf through which my project or extend relatively large commodities and articles supported upon an underlying .or lower shelf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelf construction of the type described for domestic refrigerators which embodies novel features of construction and operation yetis o comparatively simple and easy to use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shelf construction of the character set forth for domestic refrigerators which is of neat ap pearance and relatively inexpensive to menufacture.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter set I forth and described, and shown in the accom panying drawings, in whlch: f

- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a domestic refrigerator provided with a shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in so spaced one above anotheratsuitable intervals um'rao s'rA'rss PATENT osncs I mf.';$m

Theodore w. Randell. sunston, 2a., ssslsllor to shszs'msu We Novembcl' s4, museum No. 420,301

perspective of a shelf embodying the present invention and showing the articulated sections thereof in their normal position for supporting articles and commodities thereon; and

Figures 3, 4 and 5, respectively, are sectional views on line A-A, Figurev2 showing other positions in which the articulated shelf sections may be disposed with respect to each other and the shelf proper in accordance with the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 thereof a heatinsulated refrigerated compartment I that is open at the front and provided with a heat-insulated door 2, the compartment I being cooled by any suitable refrigeration equipment including an evaporator 3 arranged in the upper portion of said compartment. Suitable shelves 4, 5, 6 and I are arranged horizontally in vertically spaced relotion within the compartment I, and these shelves may be made of open-work wire construction as shown so as not to interfere with the circulation of air in said compartment I.

- Ihe present invention is concerned particularly with the construction and operation of the shelf 1, and, as shown in Figure 2 of the draw- I inns, this shelf 1 embodies a peripheral frame comprising a member 8 having side and rear portions 9 and I0 respectively and an intermediate portion Ii which extends substantially parallel to the side portions 8 forwardly from the rear portion id of said member 8. The front or for ward ends of one side portion 9 and the intermediate portion are permanently connected together by a frame portion 12 and intermediate said one side 9 and the intermediate member ii a supporting structure for articles is provided by means of a plurality of wire elements it arranged in spaced parallel relation with their opposite ends permanently secured upon the rear and front frame portions ll and I2 respectively as shown.

In order to provide sufficient rigidity and strength to the shelf I and particularly its frame structure I, there is provided a reinforcing frame member I. This reinforcing frame member ll comprises side, rear and intermediate portions ll, II and i1 respectively which are spaced below thecorresponding portions 9, l0 and H of the frame 8 although, as shown, the side portions II are relatively short and have their end portions bent upwardly and permanently secured to the overlying frame side portion 9, as at I50, while the intermediate portion l'l inclines forwardly to a point closer the front end of the intermediate portion H where the end portion of said portion I1 likewise is bent upwardly and permanently secured to said portion II, as at Ha. In addition, a strut I8 is secured between the frame member 8 and the reinforcing member H at the points of connection therewith of the intermediate portions H and I1 respectively.

Between the other side and intermediate portions 9 and II of the frame 8 and substantially parallel to the rear portion thereof, there is permanently secured a member Hi. This member I9 is spaced forwardly of the frame rear portion III a short distance as shown and connected for pivotal movement by hinges 20 to said member I9 is one of a pair of articulated shelf sections 2| and 22 respectively. These shelf sections 2| and 22 are connected together for relative pivotal movement by means of hinges 23 and each of said sections comprise a peripheral frame member 24 and 25, respectively, and secured upon the front and rear portions of these frame members are a plurality of wire elements 26 and 21 respectively arranged in spaced parallel relation as shown.

The sections 2| and 22 are of such size and shape that when disposed in coplanar position with respect to each other and the frame member 8, said sections occupy and substantially fill I the space or area bounded by the frame intermediate portion the side portion 9 and the connecting member l9 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

For supporting the sections 2| and 22 in the coplanar position just described there is provided on each of said sections a pairof lugs 28 and 29, respectively which project laterally from the opposite ends or sides of said sections and are arranged to engage downwardly upon the adjacent frame side and intermediate portions 9 and I respectively as shown.

With the two sections 2| and 22 thus positioned with respect to each other and the shelf frame 8 there is provided and, afforded a maximum of space or area for supporting articles upon the shelf 1. However, should it become necessary to provide clearance or space within the peripheral boundary of said shelf 1 through which articles supported beneath the shelf I may project because of their too great height, the articulated shelf sections 2| and 22 may be pivoted relative to each other and to the shelf proper into the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings thereby positioning said sections substantially out of the way and affording a clearance or opening of maximum area for such articles.

On the other hand where such a large clearance or opening is not needed and it is desired to make use of some of the shelf space provided by the articulated sections, the sections 2| and 22 may be closed upon each other and pivoted upwardly so that the normally front edge of the section 22 clears over a lug or pin 30 which projects forwardly from the rear portion I6 of the k reinforcing frame M as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings after which the sections may be lowered into the position shown in Figure 5 with the section 2| in its normal supporting position coplanar with the shelf 1 and the folded under section 22 supported in an elevated out-of-the-way position by the pin or lug 30. With this arrangement it will be seen that the section 2| is useable in the normal manner as a part of shelf 1 for supporting articles thereon while the removed position of section 22 provides a substantial opening or clearance through which articles supported below shelf 1 may project. I

The shelf 1 may be supported horizontally within the compartment I, as shown in Figure l of the drawings, by providing on the opposite 'side walls of the food compartment pairs of studs or the like on which the side portions 9 of said shelf may rest, and for the purpose of removably securing said shelf in this horizontal position against accidental displacement, there may be provided on each of the shelf frame side portions 9 a depending rearwardly facing hook element 3| and a depending finger 32 arranged respectively for cooperative engagement with the previously mentioned studs, for example, in the manner shown and described in applicant's copending application Serial No. 361,970 filed October 19, 1940.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel shelf construction for domestic refrigerators wherein one or more portions or sections of the shelf may be moved into different positions relative to each other and to the shelf so as to provide openings in the shelf of different areas through which may project articles and commodities supported or positioned beneath the shelf. The invention further provides a shelf that is not cumbersome and is quite simple and easy to manipulate in use.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such disclosure but that changes and modifications may be incorporated within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A shelf structure for a refrigerator comprising: an integral frame including a fixed grillelike horizontal shelf portion and an adjacent portion forming a generally rectangular opening and having laterally offset portions; a foldable shelf portion in the opening and including a plurality of grille-like sections arranged for disposition adjacent one another normally in coplanar horizontal relation with respect to each other and to said fixed horizontal shelf portion to substantially close said opening; means operatively associated with each of said sections and respectively with the said relatively offset portions of the frame for supporting said shelf sections in said horiand parallel to the hinged connection between said shelf sections, the construction and arrangement of said hinged connecting means between adjacent sections and between said one section and the frame, and the relationship of the offset portions in the latter with said hinge sections being such that said sections are foldable upon each other and movable relatively to the frame into selective predetermined positions with respect to the fixed shelf portions to expose and leave unobstructed predetermined portions of the area of said opening; and means for supporting the shelf sections in each of said selective predetermined positions.

2. A shelf structure for a refrigerator comprising: an integral frame including a fixed grillelike horizontal shelf portion and an adjacent portion forming a generally rectangular opening and having laterally offset portions; a foldable shelf portion in the opening and including a plurality of grille-like sections arranged for disposition adjacent one another normally in coplanar horizontal relation with respect to each other and to said fixed horizontal shelf portion to substantially close said opening; means operatively associated with each of said sections and respectively with the said relatively offset portions of the frame for supporting said shelf sections in said horizontal coplanar relation; means hingedly connecting said shelf sections thereof; means hlngedly connecting one of the shelf sections to said frame structure along add acent portions thereof parallel to the hinged connection between said shelf sections, the construction and arrangement of said hinged connecting means between adj acent sections and between said one section and the frame, and the relationship of the offsets in the latter with said hinge sections being such that said sections are foldable upon each other and movable relatively to the frame into selective predetermined positions with respect to the fixed shelf portion to expose and leave unobstructed predetermined portions of the area of said opening, and said selective positions including one position wherein one of said shelf sections is disposed in its normal horizontal relation with the other of said shelf sections disposed entirely helm; and substantially parallel to said one section.

3. A shelf structure for a refrigerator comprising: an integral frame including a fixed grilleliire horizontal shelf portion and an adjacent portion forming a generally rectangular opening;

a foldable shelf portion in the opening including a plurality of grille-like sections arranged for disposition adjacent one another normally in coplanar horizontal relation with respect to each other and to said fixed horizontal shelf portion to substantially close said opening; means carried by said shelf sections and respectively engageabie with adjacent portions of the frame for supporting the shelf sections in said horizontal coplanar relation, said adjacent portions of the frame being lawrally offset with respect to each other; means hingedly connecting said shelf sections together along adjacent edges thereof; means hingedly connecting one of the shelf sections to said frame structure along adjacent portions thereof parallel to the hinged connection between said shelf sections, the construction and arrangement of said hinged connecting means between adjacent sections and between said one section and the frame being such that said sections are foldable upon one another and movable into selective predetermined positions with respect to the fixed shelf portion to expose and leave unobstructed predetermined portions of the area of said opening; said laterally offset portions of the frame affording clearance for the supporting means of one of the shelf sections, so that in one of said selective positions, and with the other of said shelf sections disposed in its horizontal relation, the said one shelf section may be disposed entirely below and substantially parallel to said other section; and means on the frame engageable by said underlying shelf section for supporting the latter below and substantially parallel to said overlying shelf section.

4. In arefrigerator, a shelf comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular complementary sections adapted in horizontal coplanar relation to afford within said refrigerator an eifective shelf area corresponding substantially to the comblned areas'of the sections, one of the sections being jointed to a second section to permit foldin of said sections together in substantially face to together along adjacent edges face relation, means providing a fixed pivot for the first of saidsections parallel to said joint and upon which the said section may be moved between a position in the horizontal plane and an alternative generally elevated position in a more or less upright plane wherein the sections in said folded state are'withdrawn to one side of said area, means engageable with a free edge of each of the sections for supporting the sections in the said horizontal plane and including a laterally offset portion providing clearance between the said second section and the support means for the first section to permit movement of the second section to a folded position immediately underlying the horizontally disposed flrst section, in which position the portion of said effective shelf area normally occupied by the second section, together with the space beneath said effective area, is left free and substantially unobstructed by said section, and means for supporting the second section in said underlying folded position.

5. In a refrigerator, a frame having spaced side members, a transverse member extending between I said side members, complementary shelf sections carried by the frame and adapted in horizontal coplanar relation to afford an effective shelf area corresponding substantially to the combined areas 7 of the said sections, one of the sections bein jointed to a second section' to permit folding of said sections together along a line substantially parallel to said transverse frame member into substantially face to face relation and the first section being hinged to said transverse member for movement about the axis of said hinge between a position in the horizontal plane and an alternative generally elevated position in a more or less upright plane wherein the sections in said folded state are withdrawn to one side of said area, the said side members of the frame having portions arranged for interengagement with the first and second shelf sections respectively to support said sections in the horizontal plane, means providing clearance between said second section and the portions of the said side members which support the first section so as to permit movement of the second section to a folded position-immediately underlying the horizontally disposed first section, in which position the portion of said efiective shelf area normally occupied by the second section together with the space below said effective area is left free and substantially unobstructed by said section, and means for supporting the second section in said underlying folded position.

6. In a refrigerator, a frame-having spaced side members and a transverse member extending between said side members, complementary shelf sections carried by the frame and adapted in horizontal coplanar relation to afford an effective shelf area corresponding substantially to the combined areas of the said sections, one of the sections being jointed to a second section to permlt folding of said sections together along a line substantially parallel to said transverse frame member in substantially face toface relation and the first section exceeding the second section in the dimension paralleling said transverse member and being hinged to 'theiatter for movement about the axis of the hingelhetween a position in the horizontal plane and an-alternative generally elevated position in a more or less upright plane wherein the sections in saidfolded state are withdrawn to one side of said area, said side members having portions for interengagement with the first and second shelf sections respectively to support said sections in the horizontal plane, said by said section, and means for supporting the second section in said underlying folded position.

7. In a refrigerator shelf structure, a pair of front and back shelf sections hingedly interconnected in tandem relationship for positioning in horizontal coplanar relation to afford an effective shelf area corresponding substantially to the combined areas of said sections, and for folding toward each other to expose and leave unobstructed predetermined portions of the shelf area, a frame having rearwardly disposed means engaging the back shelf section to establish a hinge connection therebetween and provided with forwardly extending support members for said shelf sections when positioned in the horizontal coplanar relation, said members having inwardly offset portions at the front and relatively widely spaced rearward portions for respectively supporting the forward and back shelf sections, the said forward section thereby having clearance with said rearward portions of the members and being movable to a folded position immediately underlying the horizontally disposed back shelf section, and means for supporting thefolded front shelf section in said underlying position.

THEODORE W. RUNDEIL. 

